PSS Lose Nduwarugira to Burundi National Team Amid Pointless Crisis
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- Christophe Nduwarugira satu-satunya pemain PSS Sleman yang dipanggil timnas pada FIFA Matchday September 2026, memperkuat Burundi di Kualifikasi AFCON 2027.
- PSS tanpa poin dari tiga laga awal BRI Super League dan terpuruk di peringkat 15, sehingga kepergian Nduwarugira menambah beban pelatih Pieter Huistra.
- Nduwarugira dijadwalkan kembali sebelum laga melawan PSM Makassar pada 11 Oktober, namun jeda tiga pekan menjadi ujian bagi manajemen untuk membenahi skuad.
PSS Sleman must let one of their key players join the national team during the September 2026 FIFA Matchday break. Versatile defender Christophe Nduwarugira has again been called up by the Burundi national team for two further Group I matches in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers, making him Super Elja's only representative on the international agenda this time.
Burundi will first travel to Togo at Stade de Kegue, Lome, on Friday (25/9/2026), before hosting Algeria at Stade Intwari, Bujumbura, four days later. Coach Patrick Sangwa Mayani has named 25 players, and Nduwarugira remains on the list.
The call-up underlines Nduwarugira's place in the Burundi squad. Since his debut in 2012, the 32-year-old has collected 36 caps with two goals and one assist. He is one of the senior players trusted in both defence and midfield.
For PSS, losing Nduwarugira comes at an inopportune time. Laskar Sembada have suffered three straight defeats: beaten 1-2 by Bali United, silenced 1-3 by Madura United, and edged 1-2 by Dewa United. As a result, the team with the temple logo is stuck at the bottom of the table without a single point.
Even so, there is a glimmer of hope in Nduwarugira's individual form. In the match against Dewa United at Banten International Stadium on Sunday (20/9/2026), he scored his debut goal for PSS. The goal could not save the team from defeat, but it showed a real contribution in both penalty boxes.
Coach Pieter Huistra has indeed relied on Nduwarugira's flexibility. The former Borneo FC player has been fielded in three different positions: left-back, centre-back, and midfielder. His temporary absence means Huistra must find other options to keep the balance in defence and midfield.
"Nduwarugira is an important player for us, but a national call-up must be respected. We will use this break to fix the team," said a PSS internal source, describing the club's stance.
The three-week competition break is a hidden blessing. The Super Elja squad returned to training on Wednesday (23/9/2026) after a two-day break. Management and the coaching staff have time to evaluate tactics and restore the players' physical condition before the next match.
PSS are scheduled to host PSM Makassar in the fourth week at Stadion Maguwoharjo, Sleman, on 11 October 2026. Nduwarugira is projected to have returned from national duty and be ready to strengthen the team. But the question remains: can PSS use this moment to rise, or will they sink further without adding points?
